Abstract: Perfluorocarbon polymer-based matrices are coated with a hydrophilic polymer for use in bioaffinity separations. Coating is carried out by dispersing porous particles of inert perfluorocarbon polymer in a water-miscible organic solvent such as acetone or tetrafydrofuran to wet surfaces of the particles, forming a dispersion of the wetted particles in an aqueous solution of hydrophilic polymer such as poly(vinyl alcohol) containing a plurality of hydroxyl groups, at least one being at an end of a polymer chain, to adsorb the hydrophilic polymer onto the wetted surfaces of the particles, admixing a homobifunctional cross-linking agent such as glutaraldehyde with the particles to cross-link the hydrophilic polymer, activating hydroxyl groups on the surface of the cross-linked hydrophilic polymer and covalently bonding a ligand or ligand binder to the activated hydroxyl groups.